The last identity draw granted Herman his first platinum-tier identity since entering the Marvel Universe.
Though [Deceiver of History] didn't give him overwhelming new powers, it freed him from the possibility of being toyed with by time itself or those who control it.
In a sense, [Deceiver of History] might be the identity that boosted him the most, though not in raw power—it strengthened his very "existence" and "stability."
Of course, this Platinum-tier identity did offer a power boost as well—the power of fate. But to claim it, Herman would need to complete its exclusive quest.
The power increase from [Deceiver of History] would no doubt be significant. Yet Herman wasn't in any rush. He had no immediate chance to tamper with time, and forcing it now risked losing certain "acquaintances."
"The quest only requires tricking history three times. If my guess is right, there might be another way to complete it."
A plan, perhaps even flawless, had already taken shape in his mind. For now, he just needed to wait for the right opportunity. Until then, there was no urgency to push his strength further.
Besides, there was always the weekly draw. If he happened to pull another Platinum-tier, or even a Diamond-tier identity, he wouldn't need to worry about lagging behind in power.
"I wonder what kind of identity I'll get this time."
Herman stared at the countdown as it ticked away. Having already drawn one Platinum-tier identity, he couldn't help but hope for another high-ranking one. Bronze or Silver held little meaning anymore—he no longer needed mundane roles.
Still, if the draw happened to give him something unusual, something quirky and fun, he wouldn't mind getting one or two of those.
"I wonder if the All-Seeing Eye can steal someone else's identity."
Sipping coffee, Herman let his mind wander. It was only a theory—he hadn't encountered such a situation yet, and couldn't be sure the [All-Seeing Eye] was capable of it. But given what it had already done, he had little doubt it could.
After all, if the [All-Seeing Eye] could rewrite history itself, fabricating identities that never existed, then surely it could also seize identities from others—erasing them or twisting them into something new.
Take Hyperion, for example, with the power of a million suns. He was, in every sense, a lower-grade Superman. And even at that, he was far stronger than knockoff versions like the Homelander.
Getting Hyperion's identity wouldn't be bad at all. By Herman's estimation, Hyperion was at least Gold-tier, and even then, among the strongest of that tier. A "discount Superman" was still nothing to scoff at.
In the DC Universe, Superman sat at the very peak. The very name "Superman" was synonymous with overwhelming might. In countless parallel universes, Hyperions with the power of a million suns often became the last beings standing when worlds fell.
Of course, within the Marvel Universe, things operated on a higher scale. The power of a million suns wasn't much at that level. Sentry or Hyperion under normal circumstances would rank around sub-Skyfather, comparable to Thanos.
With the right encounters, though, he could rise to Skyfather-level, even peak Skyfather-level. The thought of experiencing firsthand what the energy of a million stars felt like was reason enough for Herman to think of him first.
If given the choice, though?
Herman would pick the Pre-Retcon Beyonder. His power rivaled Marvel's absolute creator, the One-Above-All, with the terrifying ability: "Whatever I imagine becomes reality."
To wield that—to have thought itself reshape reality—Herman wanted to experience it more than anything.
"An identity of that level can't just be Platinum or Diamond," he murmured to himself.
By now, Herman had noticed certain patterns with the [All-Seeing Eye].
Gold-tier identities generally corresponded to Skyfather-level beings. That was why he judged Hyperion with the power of a million suns as Gold-tier. Not because Gold-tier capped at that level, but because most Gold-tier identities either gave him Skyfather-level power or a ticket to reach it. With the right chances, one could break through even further.
Platinum-tier identities, on the other hand—though Herman only had one so far—he could already sense where they stood. They were the gateway to Universal-level power.
Universal-level, essentially the same tier as the Celestials.
On the surface, there wasn't much difference between a powerful Skyfather and a weaker Universal-level entity. Both could destroy planets effortlessly. But the ceiling was entirely different. A true Universal-level being could influence an entire universe.
Not many people realized that.
Tony Stark also once reached that level through his armor. The Godkiller Armor, forged by an ancient being, had in its prime slaughtered countless Celestials. Wiping out a galaxy with a wave of its hand was effortless—surely one of Stark's most glorious achievements.
Perhaps second only to the time he ruled the universe with artificial intelligence.
"But that armored form of Iron Man should only count as a weaker single-universe entity..." Herman judged silently.
Platinum corresponded to the single-universe level. Diamond most likely matched the Multiversal tier. As for identities beyond that, Herman wasn't eager to speculate.
"We'll talk about it when I actually draw one."
Back in his previous life, there were countless different ways people tried to classify Marvel's power levels. Herman had chosen the simplest and most straightforward one—also the most widely accepted at the time.
At the very bottom were low-dimensional lifeforms. Many assumed ordinary humans were the weakest in the Marvel Universe, but in truth, the microscopic realm was full of creatures that posed no threat at all. Entire worlds existed no bigger than atoms. To beings of the three-dimensional universe, such life was effectively lower-dimensional dust.
Among them, only those microcosms comparable to a regular universe were given the special label "pocket universes." The life within them could rival that of three-dimensional beings, though the vast majority of microscopic lifeforms were fragile as motes of dust. And there were infinite such microcosms.
In the normal Marvel Universe hierarchy, the lowest tier among three-dimensional beings were the human superheroes—Punisher, Hawkeye, Black Widow.
They were ordinary people with training and a bit of combat power.
One step higher came superhumans like Spider-Man and most mutants, born with extraordinary gifts or bodies far beyond normal humans. Still, their scope of influence rarely extended beyond Earth.
Above them were planetary-level beings like the Hulk. Even Doctor Strange, in his normal state, belonged to this level for a long time. His strength hadn't yet matched the Ancient One's—she simply recognized his limitless potential and his brilliance in judgment.
"After all, he is Sherlock Holmes."
A little joke only Herman himself would appreciate.
Beyond Hulk and Strange lay the sub-Skyfather or quasi-Skyfather level—the very tier Herman himself now occupied. Sub-Skyfather beings could unleash Skyfather-level devastation, though in a straight fight they still fell short of true Skyfathers.
Thor, Captain Marvel in her Binary Form—these were sub-Skyfather beings. Herman, however, stood at the peak of that level.
His arsenal was vast. Against most opponents of his tier, he could win nine out of ten times. Only true Skyfathers could overpower him.
Odin, the Ancient One, and many Dimensional Demon Gods stood at that rank, counted among the universe's apex powers. While demons like Mephisto and Dormammu carried the weight of Universal-level strength.
Beyond them loomed the Five Great Entities of Marvel: Death, Oblivion, Infinity, Eternity, and Galactus—the last one standing in his own peculiar category—representing the Multiversal level.
Beings of this order could annihilate entire universes without effort. Compared to them, the so-called "ultimate lifeforms" in Ultraman looked like child's play.
Of course, Galactus was in a category of his own, and couldn't be lumped in so simply.
"Some say the Living Tribunal is Multiversal, others that it transcends even the Multiverse. I think it's just a stronger Multiversal being."
Herman rubbed his chin thoughtfully. The Living Tribunal could pass judgment even upon the Five Great Gods, but in his eyes it had not yet reached the Omniversal level.
True Omniversal beings could reboot or create multiverses with ease, rewriting all of reality to avert crises.
The Tribunal didn't quite measure up to that. After all, even Thanos with the Heart of the Universe had been able to crush it with ease.
"Above the Omniverse stand only the Pre-Retcon Beyonder and the One-Above-All... I wonder if my cheat could ever give me an identity on that level."
As Herman let his imagination run wild, spinning theories and idle daydreams, the dull waiting time finally passed.
The countdown in his mind ticked to zero.
That familiar sensation returned. The world froze once again, all movement stilled, everything waiting on his next choice.
[World Permissions Accessed!]
[Weekly Identity Acquired!]
Columns of data like lines of code scrolled across the [All-Seeing Eye] in Herman's mind. The [Eye of God], silent for seven days, began to glow once more.
Light flickered in shifting hues. Herman held his breath, watching intently, heart filled with anticipation.
Colors swirled—glimmers of diamond brilliance, flashes of crimson whose meaning he didn't yet know.
The flickering slowed.
And finally—stopped on a radiant white-gold.
"Another Platinum-tier identity! Looks like my luck has finally turned around!" Herman's face lit up with excitement as he hurried to examine the newly obtained identity.
[Platinum-tier Identity—Lord of the Dead!]
[Notice—Once activated, this identity will remain permanently effective!]
[Notice—Platinum-tier and higher identities may fundamentally alter the foundations of the world, causing irreversible effects.]
[On the surface, you are a director dissatisfied with filmmaking, attempting to manipulate history and time. Your radiant, glorious identity is only a façade.]
[Beneath this persona—admired by many, feared by countless, and supported by some—you harbor an unimaginably dark and sinister true self.]
You have comprehended the essence of death, understood the ultimate meaning of life, and gained supreme authority over both the living and the dead.
All the dead must kneel before you. Those you slay with your own hands shall never find peace, condemned to eternal slavery as your undead.
You can draw power endlessly from death itself.
[Identity Exclusive Mission: Slay one cosmic lifeform.]
[Mission Reward: Heart of Death!]
[Heart of Death: You have conquered death and are forever immune to it. No matter what injury you suffer, you will always return.]
Platinum-tier identity acquired. As always.
And once again, he received a special notification from the [All-Seeing Eye].
The Marvel Universe had shifted in uncertain ways once more... much like when Supergirl Kara appeared. Herman couldn't predict what surprises might emerge this time, but no matter what, he was well prepared.
At worst...
A few more DC characters show up?
Compared to this gain... even if I had to fight Doomsday, it'd still be a winning deal!
Herman accepted the new identity.
When the world began to flow again, he understood exactly what benefits this identity had brought. Compared to [The Deceiver of History], even without completing the exclusive mission, Herman had already undergone a tremendous leap—no less significant than when he first obtained a Gold-tier identity.
His very life tier.
The moment the world resumed its flow, it was pushed to a brand-new height, as if limitless power coursed through his body.
Though this was new power, as his life tier advanced, the vast divine energy he already possessed surged again in an explosive increase.
A lake had become an ocean.
"I've become a Sky Father–level being!"
Herman vanished from his office. After the Raven's Teleportation, he appeared tens of thousands of meters above the earth.
This time, he did not stop at the clouds. He soared higher—through the atmosphere, into low Earth orbit, until he finally halted in the boundless expanse of space.
For a quasi-Sky Father–level being, space itself was already survivable. But a Sky Father–level god could move through it with ease, like a fish in water.
Among the stars, Herman gazed down at the blue Earth.
Endless cosmic energy swirled around him, pouring into his body—this was a power unique to Sky Father–level beings, able to absorb cosmic energy to sustain themselves.
Whether wounded or hungry, such beings could replenish themselves with it. For higher-level lifeforms, cosmic energy was nourishment.
If he reached an even greater tier—the Universal level—he would be able to connect with cosmic consciousness itself, achieving "omniscience and omnipotence."
That meant perceiving information from every corner of the universe. It was said that the Daughter of Galactus had already attained this realm of existence.
"For now, the Universal level is far too distant. Even within the Sky Father tier, I still haven't reached the peak."
Testing his power in the void, Herman found he could easily annihilate smaller planets.
Such strength was impressive for a Sky Father, but far from the absolute top.
Still...
"With my God-Eater power and all my other abilities combined, I should already match Odin in battle!"
After a series of tests, Herman came to a precise conclusion.
Yes.
It was only through a lucky weekly identity draw from the [All-Seeing Eye] that he had directly reached Sky Father–level, standing equal to Odin!
Even his combat power had reached a level on par with Odin's.
"If I count the abilities granted by this new identity, defeating Odin might not even be that difficult!"
The elevation of his life tier was merely the foundation—only the beginning—of what the Lord of the Dead identity granted him.